A Labrador who fell 400ft down a cliff is lucky to be alive, according to his rescuers.

Jake and his owners were walking at Huntcliff Cliffs, near Saltburn on Monday, when he fell over the edge. His terrified owners called Cleveland Police who contacted the Humber Coastguard.

Skinningrove and Staithes Coastguard Rescue teams and an emergency vet also assisted in the incident.

The dog was found on the beach, safe and well and able to walk but was showing sign of injury to his rear end. In another sad twist, the dog’s owner suffered severe chest pains whilst walking back and had to be airlifted to Middlesbrough General Hospital for treatment.

Paul Chapman, watch officer of the Humber Maritime Coastguard Co-ordination Centre, said: "This is a very unusual state of events. Our priority is to see the owner of the dog receives appropriate medical attention as quickly as possible. The dog will also be receiving attention from the vet."

Mr Chapman urged people walking their dogs along cliff tops to always put their animals on a lead. "If they do find themselves in any difficulty with the dog having gone over the cliff to ring 999 and ask for the coastguard," he said.